MoniQA - External Newsletter Issue 4/2 (Nov. 2011)



Issue 4/2 of the MoniQA newsletter covers the following topics:
In Perspective Industry Corner	Events Ask MoniQA
Research Frontiers Policy Monitor Food Safety Web Spotlight	About MoniQA Disclaimer


In Perspective

	Say "Hello" to the MoniQA Association! We are delighted to introduce to you the MoniQA Association, the international group of organisations dedicated to collaborative research aimed at promoting a more secure and safer food supply. In this editorial we would like to provide you with an overview of past, present and future activities. What happened so far? The EU-funded MoniQA Network of Excellence (NoE) involves experts from around the globe working for safer foods by harmonising food quality and safety monitoring and control strategies worldwide. Funding ends on 31^st January 2012, but some activities will continue through the newly established MoniQA Association, membership of which is open to all organisations with a commitment to food safety and security. In early August 2011, the association was officially incorporated as a non profit association (a so-called "Verein") under Austrian law. Most of the original NoE partners have joined the MoniQA Association and several other organisations have also signed up, bringing membership to around 40 institutions from 18 countries across five continents. MoniQA Association - today The first MoniQA Association General Assembly took place in Varna (BG) on 29^th September 2011 where members ratified the First Regular Supervisory Board, which consists of Angelo Visconti (CNR, IT - President), Bert Popping (Eurofins CTC/ Analytik, DE - Vice President), Paul Finglas (IFR, UK), Wolfang Kneifel (BOKU, AT)and Hans-Peter van Egmond (RIKILT, NL). The Supervisory Board will be supported by Roland Poms as Secretary General and the MoniQA Secretariat, based at ICC in Vienna, Austria. Information about the MoniQA Association and its activities is available at http://association.moniqa.org and includes an overview of the Association's structure, its officials and members, FAQs, and important documents (e.g. statues, prospectus, membership form, codes of business practice). We love to hear from you! This is a pivotal moment in the development of the MoniQA Association as we are currently further developing and refining our planned activities. We would be delighted to hear from you - for instance: What do you think the food safety priorities will be in the near future? Which training courses or workshops are you most interested in? Where should the 4^th MoniQA International Conference be hosted? If you have any questions or you would like to become a member of the MoniQA Association, please send an email to moniqa@moniqa.org We look forward to hearing from you! Dr Angelo Visconti, President of the MoniQA Association Dr Bert Popping, Vice-President of the MoniQA Association Back to top

Industry Corner

	MoniQA Association Activities for Industry The MoniQA Association offers continuous professional development, building on the successful MoniQA Food Scientists' Training (FST) programme. Association membership ensures you stay informed about regional, national, European and global developments in food safety through, for example, industry-wide knowledge transfer events and MoniQA resources such as the food safety database and the regulatory impact assessment toolbox. More information: http://association.moniqa.org/activities/industry. Back to top

Research Frontiers

	MoniQA Association Activities for Research Organisations Joining the MoniQA Association provides research organisations with an ideal opportunity to network with peers at conferences and access training, expertise and infrastructure and to establish trans-continental bi- and multi lateral cooperation. Membership offers discounted access to MoniQA events including training, one free subscription to Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops and Foods, one free licence for MoniQA databases and access to rapid methods for food safety and quality analysis and international standards. More information: http://association.moniqa.org/activities/research. Back to top

Policy Monitor

	MoniQA Association Activities for Policy Makers MoniQA Association is helping to achieving better regulations through its socio-economic toolbox, which predicts the impact of amended or new regulations at a variety of levels. MoniQA can offer information about case studies, to assess socio-economic impact of regulation and food hazards, and offer input for expert summits and events. The association will also contribute to international standards through a variety of European and Global fora. More information: http://association.moniqa.org/activities/policy_makers. Back to top

Food Safety Web Spotlight

	MoniQA Association Activities for Consumers MoniQA Association recognises that dialogue with the public is much needed. Publically-accessible information about MoniQA and its activities is available online and MoniQA regularly participates in public events such as the British Science Festival and the European Science Open Forum. The MoniQA Association will continue these activities and to provide consumer with information about food safety and quality in an easy-to-understand fashion. More information: http://association.moniqa.org/activities/consumers. Back to top

Events

	The 3^rd MoniQA International Conference (September 27-29, Varna, BG) brought together more than 150 delegates from around the globe to discuss food safety issues and their impact on the consumer. The conference featured a wide array of speakers from food safety researchers, socio-economists, regulators, representatives from food industry and retail as well as consumer representatives from around the globe. Poster prizes were awarded to: (1^st) Sine Yener (HCTU, TR), (2^nd) Dorota Piasecka-Kwiatkowska (NFNI, PL) and (3^rd) Chen Jinyao (SCU, CN). The conference also hosted the official launch event of the MoniQA Association. Pictures and presentations can be downloaded from http://varna2011.moniqa.org and an official press release is available at http://association.moniqa.org/press_varna_launch. Related Events include: 1^st ICC India Conference - Developments in grain science and technology to ensure high quality, safe and healthy grain-based food, 16-18^th January 2012, New Delhi (IN) 19^th European Congress on Obesity, 9-12^th May 2012, Lyon (FR) 6^th Central European Congress on Food, 23^rd - 26^th May 2012, Novi Sad (RS) 14^th ICC Cereal and Bread Congress, 6-9^th August 2012, Beijing (CN) 16^th IUFosT World Congress of Food Science and Technology, 19^th - 23^rd August 2012, Salvador (BR) WMF meets IUPAC, 5-9^th November 2012, Rotterdam (NL) Back to top

Ask MoniQA

	How is the MoniQA Association structured and how can I join? In the first instance, day-to-day management of the MoniQA Association will be outsourced to ICC, the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology. Strategic business decisions will be the responsibility of the elected Supervisory Board whilst the scientific direction will be guided by a separate Scientific Advisory Committee. The General Assembly is ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with the statutes and holding both the Supervisory Board and Secretary General to account with regards to achieving scientifically appropriate goals in financially prudent manner. MoniQA applies a best practice ethics code of conduct. To join go to http://association.moniqa.org/membership/signup and download the application form. Membership fee is currently € 1 000 per year. Back to top

About MoniQA

	MoniQA (Monitoring and Quality Assurance in the Food Supply Chain) is funded by the European Union. It is a Network of Excellence aiming to make food safer by harmonising worldwide food quality and safety monitoring and control strategies. - MoniQA focuses on validation of and setting performance criteria/requirements for methods used to analyse foods and food products for safety and quality with the main focus being on rapid methods and their applicability and reliability in routine testing. - MoniQA seeks to establish long-lasting cooperation amongst leading research institutes, industrial partners and the small- and medium-sized businesses in food and retail in order to ensure food quality and safety for consumers. - Researchers from around the world have been involved right from the start in 2007 and the network is constantly growing. - In the long-term the MoniQA consortium hopes that the project will form the basis of a sustainable global network of food safety and quality experts. The project is coordinated by ICC. Back to top

Disclaimer

	This newsletter is published by the MoniQA consortium. Every effort has been made to ensure that information is accurate at the time of publication but no liability will be accepted for losses caused by inaccurate information. MoniQA is supported by the European Commission (ec.europa.eu) Newsletter editorial team: Responsible for content: RTDS Responsible for layout: ICC Editorial input by IFR Dissemination Manager: Daniel Spichtinger spichtinger@rtd-services.com Back to top